Integrated State Law Enforcement Task Force

The Alabama Senate has delayed a vote on a package of bills addressing government consolidation and efficiency.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh had planned to get the bills up for a vote Thursday. Marsh says he decided to delay a vote until next week because the bills are complicated and senators want time to study them.

Competing plans are being developed for achieving more efficiency in Alabama's law enforcement operations.

Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh unveiled legislation Friday that would consolidate and reorganize the state's many law enforcement functions into a new Public Safety Agency. It would include state troopers, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, marine police, the fire marshal and others. It would abolish the state Department of Homeland Security and divide its duties among other agencies.

A state task force report will recommend ways to cut Alabama's law enforcement spending, most likely by combining some of the state's 22 law enforcement agencies.

The Anniston Star reports (http://bit.ly/UwnWEE) that members of the Integrated State Law Enforcement Task Force aren't yet giving specifics of what would be cut under the proposal. The report is to be delivered to Gov. Robert Bentley this weekend.

Escambia County Sheriff Grover Smith said the recommendations should bring Alabama in line with neighboring states.